Milking-machine relay



f l Apr. 17, 1923.v

v s.' H. HALL MILKING MACIVIINE RELAY 2 sheetssneet '1,

Filed Feb. is, 1921 Apr. 17, 1923. 1,152,153

S. H. HALL MILKING MACHINE RELAY Fi1ed Feb. 18, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 sea Patented tor. l?. i923.

ortica,

SELDEN H. HALL, OF POUGHKEEPSE, NEVI YORK, ASSEGNOR TO THE DE LAVAL SEPARATOR COMPANY, F NEUW YORK, N. Y., CORPORATION 0l? NEW JERSEY.

nutren starai MILKING--MAGHNE RELAY.

Application filed February i8, i921. Serial No. 446,037.

To @ZZ whom t may concern: the operation of the two sets of teat cups kBe it known'that I, SnLDnN H. HALL, a will be unequal. iti'zen oiE the United States, residing at Conditions eXist that tend to produce this Poughkeepsie, ,county of Dutchess, and inequality. To exhaust air from a pipe line State of N ew York, have invented a new and requires a longer time than to lill such pipe useful Improvement in Milking-Machine line; and the further from the master valve Relays, of which the'iollowing is a full, the observations are made, the greater the 60 clear, and' exact description, reference being distortion ot the pulsatioii wave `due to this had to the accompanying drawings, which cause. Hence the secondary pulsators of `iorin a part of this speciiication. known systems do not ordinarily produce My invention relates to cow milking masecondary pulsations having atmospheric chines and particularly to that class in which waves and vacuum waves of the same length. al positively operated master pulsation valve ln other words, unbalanced waves are procauses master pneumatic pulsations in a pipe duced. rllhe variation in some installations 15 line, which master pulsations in turn oper may be so pronounced as to considerably reate either an individual pulsator valve on duce the utility' of the system. a milking machine unit to produce pneurlhe object of my invention is to provide matic pulsations'in a pipe leading'to the a secondary pulsator which, when operated teat cups, or a relay valve to produce pneuby a primary wave, even when badly unbalmatic pulsations in a secondary pipe line. anced, will produce secondary waves which Such relay valves and secondary pulsation are very closely balanced.

pipe lines are also used to transmit pulsal l accomplish this object by having a pis, 75 tions to the individual pulsator valve of a ton which, instead of being4 under the inmilking machine unit. iii-rence oi two liz-ed 'f nessures and one va- 25 Both the individual pulsator valve speciriable pressure, is under the influence of the tied and the relay valve specified may be reprimary pulsation and a pressure fixed at a garded as secondary pulsators in that point halil way between the two extremes of their operation is pneumatically controlled, the pulsation. through a pipe line, from a master p-ulsator, In the accompanying drawings, which 30 The primary pulsations are produced by show a preferred embodiment of my inconnecting` the primary pulsation pipe alvention: ternately to atmosphere and a partial vacl is a cross-section of my complete uum. rlhe above mentioned secondary pulrelay. sators are operatedby a differential piston Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the upper 3 under the influence of atmosphere, the parend of the piston and cylinder.

tial vacuum and the pulsation. When the Fig. 3 is a diagram ot a complete milking pulsation wave is equally divided about a machine installation with my improved line halt way between the atmospheric line valve used to transmit pneumatic pulsations and the vacuum line, the operation of the from a primary main pipe line to a secondsecondary pulsator will be such as to have ary inainpipe line. equal pauses at the two ends of its strokes, F ig. flis a diagram orn a complete instalandthe secondary vacuum and atmospheric lationwith my improved valve forming part waves will be ofequal lengths. This is a deot a portable milking machine unit and sideratum, especially where a construction therein used to transmit pneumatic pulsa-A is provided whereby the individual pulsator tions from a main pipe line to pipes leadforming part of the milking machine unit ing dii-ect to the inflation chambers ot' double is arranged to operate two pairs of teat cups chambered teat cups.

alternately, one pair being connected with a is a relay body having tive annular atmosphere and the other with vacuum at spaces Z), c, (Z, e and f, surrounding a central one stroke, while thel connections are re-4 cylinder g, in which reciprocates a pistonversed at the other stroke. It is obvious that valve. The piston-valve has two cylindrical it the secondary vacuum waves and the atportions i and j united by a neck Za formed i mospheric` waves are of diierent lengths, between the cylindrical portions. A hole extends longitudinally through the central neck of the piston and affords a restricted communication between its cylindrical ends.

The annular space o is in free communication with the ycylindrical portion `y' of the cylinder g and with the master pulsation pipe Z. Vhen the piston-valve is in its loW- est position communication between the bottom of the cylinder and the space o is by means of the holes y near the edge of the cylindrical portion y' of the piston-valve. The space c is in communication through a strainer m with the atmosphere'and through a port a with the interior of the cylinder g. The space l is in free communication with Vone'ormore seconda-ry pulsation pipes 0 and through a port D with the interior of the c inter esae c'iin re comyl l g Th 1c s i e p munication with a vacuum pipe fr and through a port s With'the interior of the I cylinder. The space 7 communicates by pas# sages t with the top of the cylinder g.

Above the cylinder, in, 'tree communication with its center but separated from the spacej" by; a head 'av having 'a soft lower side, is a chamber to. The upper end ofthe piston has a narrow bead e. oil a smallerdi# ameter than the piston, which, when the piston is at'the top, contacts with the under side of the head a and shuts the chamber j' and anannular space above the piston oli from the center oi the cylinder.

lVhen in operation the'v primary pulsation is comi'nunicatedto the bottom oitfthe cylin! der. Through the hole m the bottom of the cylinder is in :tree but restricted communication with the chamber w. The chamber w is so large relativetto the hole that the variations in pressure o'lz the pulsations are notf transmitted to it'. The pressure in the chamber is very nearly unil-ornaat a. value half way between the extremes oit the pulsation Wave. Then a high pressure Wave comes Jfrom the pipe Z, the piston moves to the top. `When a low pressure wave comes the piston moves'to the bottom. i

' The pneumatic `forces are such that were it not for the Weight off the piston, the upr and down strokes would be at equal time intervals. `The Weight ot the piston causes a tendency for it to remain longer at the bottom than at the top. When the piston is-at' the top, the bead o contacts With the under side of the head a3 shutting the chamber `7@ and the annularspace above the pis 'ton and outside of the bead oil from communication with the interior of the piston and the chamber lw. Leakage by the piston to the vacuum port sreduces the pressure-1n the chamber f and on the annular area outsidethe bead e enough to compensate 'for` the weight ot the piston.

lWhen the piston is 1n its lower position air 1s admitted through the screen m. 'the chant i ber c, port n, groove around the neck' 7c,

port p and chamber cl tothe secondary pulsationpipes o. 1When the piston is 1n its upper position, air escapes Jfrom the pipes 0 through the chamber (Z, port p groove aroundthe neck is, port s, and chamber e to the vacuum pipe r. l,

lit will thus be seen that l have provided a relay or secondary pulsator which will adapted to a rela-y valve` for transmitting master pulsations 'from a prima-ry pulsation line to a s condary pulsation `line. The vacuumv line fr, the primary pulsation vline Z,

rvthe secondaryfpulsation pipe line o andl the atmosphericpports m 'correspond to the similarly lettered partsy inqlfigz 2. VThe vacuum pump l0 is shown connected with vacu- .um line r. The masterpulsa-tor valve ll,`

shown as connected with theprimary pulsation line Z,is operablefrom the vacuum pump .10. Cocks l2 are arrangedjalong pipe Z and o, andtoiany olithese coclisis adapted to beiconnected the pulsation `pipe lll of a portable milking machine unit. Cocks 13 are arranged along thel vacuun'upipewr', and to any of" thesepcocks 'is adapted to be connected: the vacuum pipe l5 of such portable'millrin'g machine unit. 16V is the mill: pail, 17the1claw (usually containinga cla-.iv pulsator7 not shown) and 18 the teat cups.

l'n Fig. slmy improvedA valve isshown adapted to a. pulsator forming; part ot an individual portable milking machine unit, as; for example7 a p ulsator in the claw if? of Fig. 3. fllheyacuum line 'rf is lshown as connected tothe `milk chamherlI of the claw, which is connected with` the millrpail 2l. in turn connected with: the mainvacuum pipe line 22 atany ofthe cocks 23; VThe primary pulsation pipefi` isV connectible with the main primary,pulsationi pipe line 24er any of the cocks Q5. 'The secondary pulsa-- tion `pipo ois shown as connected with the inflation chambers of teatzcups 26, the suction chambers, of the, teat cups being conh nected with the' mill: Vchamber 2O otthe claw. w C

llhilel have described my` relay as adapted to produceI secondary pulsations in `one pulsation pipe line orin a plurality or' pulsation pipe lines in unison, my invention is not intended to he limitedfto such an ar; ramo-ement or to eXc-ludefan obvious rearrangement oil ports and chambers to produce pulsations in two secondary puls-ation pipes alternately. j l

l am -amvarethatl vnot the first in the art kor `milking'machine'npnlsator val-yes to provide an air chamber Loi:` some size `at one end ofV the valvev chamber Which communi-.-

lOO

' bert Patent No. 1,392,570.

ber, Such a valve is disclosed in the Hullfn that patent, hoivever, the pressure in the air chamber varies through a large percentage of the range of pulsations, and the rise and fall of pressure therein aredepended upon to effect the reciprocation ot the piston. in my invention the chamber is so large relatively to the restricted passage in the piston'that th, pressure in the chamber is nearly uniform at a value approximating the mean of the pressure from the source of pulsations.

Having now fully described my invention, what l claim and desire to protect by Letn ters Patent is 1. ln a milking machine relay, in combination, a source of pneumatic pulsations independent of the relay, a cylinder one end only of which is adaptedto communicate- With said source of pneumatic pulsations, an air chamber in communication with the other end of the cylinder, and a piston in the cylinder, there stricted passage afloriiling` communication between the source ot pneumatic pulsations and the air chamber, the air chan'iber being of sufficient. size relative to said restricted passage to maintain therein an approximately uniform pressure at a value substantially half Way between the extremes of the pulsations. l

2. Ina milking machine relay, in combination, a source of pneumatic pulsations independent. of the relay,a cylinder one end only ot Which is adapted to communicate With said sourcer ot pneumatic pulsations, an air chamber in communication with the other end ot the cylinder, and a piston in the cylinder comprising hollow open ends and a connecting member provided with a` restricted passage affording free communication between the ends of the cylinder, the air chamber being of sufficient size relative to said restricted passage to maintain therein an approximately uniform pressure at a value substantially halt1 Way between the extremes of the pulsations. i

3. In a milking machine relay, in combination, a cylinder provided With an atmos' plieric port, a vacuum port and a pulsation port, a piston in the cylinder adapted in its reciprocations to connect the pulsation port alternately With the vacuumfpo'rt and with the atmospheric port, a source of pneumatic pulsations independent ot the relay, a primary pulsation pipe connecti-irgl said source with one end only ot the cylinder, and means cooperating with the primary pulsations in said pipe to maintain the pulsation port in communication with the vacuum port andy with the atmospheric port for substantially equal time intervals.

ai. In a milking machine relay, in combination, a cylinder provided with an atmospheric port, a vacuum port. and a pulsation being a constantly open report, a piston in the cylinder adapted ia its reciprocations to connect the pulsation port alternately With the vacuum port and With the atmospheric port, means to transmit pneumatic pulsations to one end of the valve, and means to maintain the pneumatic pressure operative on the otherend "of the `valve approximately constant and at a value sul stpntially halt Way between the extremes of the pulsations, whereby the pulsation port is placed in communication with the vacuum port and with the atmospheric port for substantially equal 'time intervals.

5. In va milking` machine relay, a source ot pneumatic pulsations independent of the relay, a cylinder one end only ot which is adapted to communicate with said source and provided with an atmospheric port, a vacuum port and a pulsation port, a piston in the cylinder adapted .in itsreciprocations to connect the pulsation port alternately with the vacuum port and With the atmospheric'port, and means to maintain an approximately uniform pressure in the other end of the cylinder at a value substantially halt Way between the extremes of the pulsations.

6. In a milking `machine relay, a. source ot pneumatic pulsations independent of the relay, a cylinder. one 'end only of `which is adapted to communicate with said source and provided with an atmospheric port, a vacuum port and apulsation port, a vpiston in the cylinder adapted in its reciprocations to connect the pulsation port alternately with the vacuum port and With the atmospheric port, and an air chanfiber in communication With the other end of the cylinder, there being a constantly open restricted passage bet-Ween the ends ot the cylinder, the air chamber being ot suilicient size relative to said restricted passage to maintain therein an approximately uniform pressure at a value substantially half Way between the extremes of the pulsations.

7. In a. milking machine relay, in combi nation, an upright cylinder provided with an atmospheric port, a vacuum port and a pulsation port, a piston in the cylinder adapted in its reciprocationsto connect the pulsation port alternately With the vacuum port and With the atmospheric port, a source of pneumatic pulsations independentot the relay and adapted to communicate with one end only ot the cylinder, an air chamber in communication with the upper end of the cylinder, there being a restricted passage between the ends oli the'cylinder, the air chamber being of sullicient size relative to said restricted passage to maintain therein an approximately uniform pressure at a y value substantially half Way between the extremes of the pulsations, and pneumatically controlled means to balance the Weight of the valve and counteract the tendency of the lll? piston to remain longer at the bottom than at the top.

8. In a. milking machine relay, in combination, a cylinder one end ot which is adapted t-o communicate with a source of pneuoif cli'lmaticpulsations, two air chambers 'ferent size, one in communication with the center, and the other in con'ununication with thefperiphery, der, there being a restricted passage froii'i the sourceV of pneumatic pulsations to the larger chamber, avacuum connection, a piston reciprocable' iny the cylinder', provision for a leakage from the smaller chamber to the vacuum connection, and means on the-end of the piston adjacent the 'two chambers, op-

` erable, when the piston is at the end of its oi. the other 'end of the cylinnation,fa cylinder one encloli which is adapted to communicate with a source or pneumaticpulsations, 'two air chambers of ditterent size, one in communication withthe center, and the other in communication with the periphery, oi" ythe `other end of the cylinder, there being` a restricted passage from the source ot pneumatic pulsations to the larOer chamber, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, eport., proyision'lcr a leakage between s airl port` anflfthe smaller chamber, and means on the end onty the piston adjacent the two chambers operable, when the piston isat the enel of stroke toward the larger i chamber, to prevent comunmication between said chambers, thereby causing the peripheral portion ofthe piston to be brought under the influence ot only the pressure in the smaller chamber.

ln testimony ot which invention, I have hereunto set my hand,l at Poughkeepsie, on this l1 clay of February, 1,921. Y SELDENH. HALL. 

